The new the new HWY 371 will cost $58 million dollars to expand Highway 371 from two lanes to four lanes and bypass Pequot Lakes downtown area during the nine-mile expansion. Minnesota’s Department of Transportation says the expansion is necessary as the Brainerd Lakes Area tourism increases.
MnDOT says safety is the focus and the new expansion will add roundabouts and safer J-Turns or Michigan Lefts to help reduce dangerous left-hand turns across traffic. The expansion is also aimed to reduce congestion in Pequot Lakes’ downtown area.
MnDOT says it’ll take two years for the project to be completed. And the Pequot Lakes Chamber of Commerce says that’ll be enough time for their businesses to prepare for the change.
The Chamber also says they’re happy the bypass construction won’t disrupt the downtown area during those two years.

By — Lakeland PBS

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